Welcome Monty

[TallJRock]

Hi,

I am a brand new snake owner. My new little boy's name is Monty, he is a baby BEL that I purchased at the Hamburg Reptile Show in Hamburg, PA. I didn't plan on getting a baby, but every BEL for sale at the show was a baby, unlike a lot of other morphs and non-morphs. So, I am taking the challenge of learning about this while Monty is growing up. I fed him a live Hopper on the advice of the breeder and he ate the first try, I had him 7 days when he first ate. I have only held him twice, once a day before he ate and then 3 days after, giving him time to digest and get acclimated to his new home. I took the advice of some other videos and posts that I have looked at and basically just lifted up his hide and then just scooped him up from behind quickly and he quickly just uncoiled and began using me as a jungle gym. I am not going to overdo it with holding him, maybe once a day for just a short time unless he as recently eaten or is in shed. I am excited for him to get comfortable with us. I am attaching a couple pictures of him. The second picture is a bit blurry but I didn't realize how hard it would be to take the pic while holding him LOL. As time goes on I will show more pictures. Thanks for viewing this post!

[Homebody]

Welcome to both of you. You should fit right in around here. As you are new to ball pythons, I suggest you review the forum's very excellent care sheet, if you haven't done so already.

[Bogertophis]

Cute little beep- but I always thought "baby bel" was a kind of cheese? (just teasing!)

[TallJRock]

Welcome to both of you. You should fit right in around here. As you are new to ball pythons, I suggest you review the forum's very excellent care sheet, if you haven't done so already.

Thanks, I have checked out the care sheet. The one thing I am addressing is smaller hides since I had planned to get a juvenile snake the ones I have now are a little too large, I have smaller ones ordered.

[TallJRock]

Cute little beep- but I always thought "baby bel" was a kind of cheese? (just teasing!)

LOL thanks!

[Bogertophis]

Thanks, I have checked out the care sheet. The one thing I am addressing is smaller hides since I had planned to get a juvenile snake the ones I have now are a little too large, I have smaller ones ordered.

You might try wadding up some paper to make the hides seem cozier until he grows into them- snakes aren't very critical, lol.

[Kam]

Welcome!

Monty is a handsome lil fellow!!

[TallJRock]

Quick update. Monty has successfully eaten all 3 feedings. I am going to feed him at least one or two more live Hopper Mice before I try to switch him over to frozen/thawed. I am attaching some pictures of me holding him most recently. Oh, and he does love the smaller hides, they both keep him much tighter and he seems much more relaxed when I get him out from one of them.

When he first comes out, he is in his standard little ball:



He then gets to using me like a jungle gym. He is much more comfortable as time goes on and is not as skittish when my hands go in front of him, I have been able to pet him on the head some.



After he's gotten a fair amount of exercise, he calms down and sometimes stays in this position, he is all stretched out along my arm with his head near my elbow.



It's been an absolute joy giving him time to be inquisitive. He is still not super thrilled if I go in his enclosure when he is already out exploring, but I give him his space and don't try to force it. He is only 6 weeks old after all. I don't know why I haven't gotten a BP until now, because so far this has been such a great experience.